1. Preparing for the 2020 Application Cycle
Caitlin Bannon University Advising Center Pre-Professional Health Advising

2. Do you need to request a Committee Letter of Evaluation?
Yes: Applicants to medical (MD/DO), dental, and podiatric programs.
Committee Evaluation is expected and preferred
No: Applicants to all other graduate level programs (PA, OD, PharmD, PT, ND, and DC)
Generally, no Committee Letter is required/requested
Start reviewing the letter requirements for schools of interest now.

3. Centralized Application Services
AMCAS: Most US allopathic (MD) medical schools
AACOMAS: Osteopathic (DO) medical schools
TMDSAS: Texas public MD and dental schools
AADSAS: Dental schools
CASPA: PA programs
PTCAS: Physical Therapy programs
OptomCAS: Optometry programs
PharmCAS: Pharmacy programs
AACPMAS: Podiatry programs

4. How do you know if you are ready to apply?
Read the 10 Good Reasons to Delay on our website under Application Process/Forms
Ask yourself – would I be a substantially stronger applicant in one year, based on courses I will be taking, research I will be doing, or experiences I will be having, improved exam scores?
Do I have 3-5 individuals (including science faculty and others) who can write detailed, specific, and personal letters of recommendation on my behalf?
Can I articulate why I have chosen this path, and that I am a good fit for this profession?
Do I have evidence to demonstrate these claims?

5. How Schools Evaluate
Schools do not evaluate applicants on their major.
Evaluation is based on:
Grades: All years and schools attended, science GPA, total GPA, non- science courses
Experiences: Sustained commitment, knowledge of field and healthcare in general, personal attributes and desire to serve others
Letters of Recommendation: Faculty, providers, supervisors, mentors, and Committee (medical/dental applicants)
Entrance Exams: Taken only after prerequisites are completed
Interviews: UNH Committee and Medical Schools

6. National Averages: Accepted Applicants (Previous Application Cycle) Note: averages do not reflect other factors used when evaluating an applicant’s file
FIELD
GRADE POINT AVERAGE
EXAM SCORE
Medicine
MD: 3.70 Overall
DO: 3.56 Overall
Mean MCAT Percentile: 80% (MD)
57% (DO)
Dentistry
3.54 Overall
DAT: Mean - Academic Average: 20
Optometry
3.32 Overall
Not available (OAT)
Physician Assistant
GRE Average Percentile: 55%
Podiatry
3.3 Overall
MCAT: 22
Pharmacy
3.38 Overall
Not available (PCAT)
Physical Therapy
3.57 Overall
Not available (GRE)

7. Questions to Consider
Why have you chosen to prepare for a career in health?
How familiar are you with healthcare environments?
Have you volunteered or worked in a medical or health-related environment? If so, in what capacity?
What do you know about what it’s like to be a patient?
What do you know about what it’s like to be a physician/dentist/other?
If you have worked in a health-related environment, what did you find most enjoyable and most challenging about this work?
If you haven’t, what has kept you from doing this?

8. Cautions Low Grades Limited experiences
It is very difficult to overcome multiple semesters with a low GPA (< C’s in prerequisites)
Consult with the HP advisor – what are your options?
Limited experiences
Unprepared to make informed decision about a healthcare career.
Judicial Sanctions and/or Criminal Record
You will be asked on applications – whether the record has been expunged or not.

9. Important Attributes of Healthcare Professionals How have you developed/demonstrated these qualities? Important Attributes of Healthcare Professionals How have you developed/demonstrated these qualities?
Professionalism
Adaptability
Critical Thinking
Ability to use good judgment
Integrity
Ability to balance multiple priorities
Logical Reasoning
Resilient
Intellectual curiosity-resourceful
Strong interpersonal skills - listening and speaking
Personal Maturity
Ethical, cultural, and social awareness/understanding
Reliability
Dedication to service
Self Discipline
Empathy
Work Habits
Compassion
Motivation for Healthcare
Altruism
Persistence
Teamwork

10. UNH Committee Letter Process
Medical and Dental Applicants

11. Why a UNH application file?
All submitted documents are reviewed by HP advisor and will be used for your primary application
Helps you to pace yourself and be prepared for an early application
You are given feedback about documents prior to submission
Content of file is given to your Committee interviewers
Content of file, including interview notes, are used to write your Composite Letter
Your Committee Letter packet is submitted by HP advisor to all schools you apply to

12. What UNH sends to schools from your completed file
Your letter packet, which includes:
Committee Letter of Evaluation
Supporting letters of recommendation received
I do not send any other materials, such as transcripts or personal statement

13. UNH Professional Schools
Two Year Process Year One: Developing Your Portfolio Fall 2018 – Spring 2019
Application File (Fall)
Committee Interviews (Spring)
Entrance Exams
UNH
Primary Application (May and June)
Secondary Applications (Summer)
Professional Schools

14. Two Year Process Year Two: Decisions Summer 2019 – Summer 2020
Secondary Applications (Summer)
School Interviews (Late Summer through Spring)
Apply For Financial Aid
Professional Schools
Accepted
Reapply
Other
Decisions

15. Two Year Process Important:
This timetable is designed to help you complete your application and be considered for admission at the earliest possible date (May or June submission)
Assuming you have a strong application, it is in your best interest to submit your application as early as you can
Important:
Most schools use a rolling admissions process
Schools evaluate applications as they are completed
Schools offer interviews as applications are received
There are very limited interview slots given the number of applications received
No interview = no acceptance.

16. Prerequisite Courses 1 year General Biology w/lab (BIOL 411 & 412)
1 year General Chemistry w/lab (CHEM 403 & 404)
1 year Organic Chem. w/lab (CHEM )
1 year General Physics w/lab (PHYS 401 & 402)
1 semester Biochemistry w/lab (BMCB 658/659)
Psychology/ Sociology
1 year English
1 year Math (Statistics and 1 semester Calculus)
*AP Credit is not universally accepted by medical or dental schools. It is strongly recommended that you take the course at UNH. If you do not take the course, you should take additional upper level courses in that subject area.

17. Assessing yourself as an applicant You have:
Explored the health professions Gained exposure to the profession over the past 3-4 years Volunteer/paid experiences Shadowed providers and make connections Researched the options – been informed Looked at health professions websites Subscribed to an online health profession newsletter

18. Assessing yourself as an applicant You have:
Maintained a balance between academics and social activities
Earned good grades (ideal: 3.5> GPA)
Gotten to know your professors and advisors
Been involved in your major -research opportunities/independent study

19. Assessing yourself as an applicant You have:
Been involved – It’s not a checklist!
Demonstrate committed participation in areas that are truly important to you, such as:
Campus and community organizations
Healthcare environments
Service and volunteering
Leadership
Research
Mentoring/tutoring
Employment
Hobbies
Athletics
Travel

20. Looking at the numbers

24. Finding the right school
MSAR: Medical School Admissions Requirements, M.D.
CIB: College Information Book, D.O.
Official Guide to Dental School, book and online resources:

25. AAMC Resources MSAR: Medical School Admission Requirements

32. Start the Process
Doubts? Questions? Meet with pre-health advisor or other trusted faculty members. Schedule an appointment via myWildcat Success.
Ready to start? Review UNH file requirements, materials, deadlines, and timeline at
Deadlines are not negotiable – stay up to date
New Applicant Files can be opened between now and December 7th.

34. Paying for the Applications Fee Assistance Programs
AMCAS (MD): medical-school-process/fee-assistance-program/
AACOMAS (DO): programs/aacomas-fee-assistance-program/index.html
AADSAS (Dental): tal_School_ADEA_AADSAS/Fee_Assistance_Program.aspx#sthash.bhPwvgC 1.dpbs
Review qualifications, eligibility, and instructions carefully